The Josie's Organics baby spinach E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has ended with 15 people sick in 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One more person, who lives in California, was added to the case count since the last update on December 3, 2021. The outbreak has ended as of January 6, 2021. The patient case count by state is: California (1), Indiana (4), Iowa (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (2), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), and South Dakota (2). Illness onset dates ranged from October 13, 2021 to November 8, 2021. Patient ages ranged from one to 76 years. Four people were hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate was 27%. And three people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of an E. coli infection that … [Read more...]
Eight Sick and One Possible Death in PA Hepatitis A Outbreak
Eight people are sick and there is one possible death in a Pennsylvania hepatitis A outbreak that is associated with an unnamed Italian restaurant, according to a health advisory issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) and the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (MCOPH). That restaurant is located in Montgomery County in Southeast Pennsylvania. The eight cases are all lab-confirmed. Of seven people who gave information to public health investigators about their health, six, or 86%, have been hospitalized. One death is under investigation at this time. Healthcare providers in the area should consider hepatitis A as a diagnosis in anyone who presents with jaundice or elevated liver enzymes and clinically compatible symptoms of the disease. All cases must be … [Read more...]
FDA Info on Deadly Dole Listeria Outbreak, With 16 Sickened
The FDA has released information about the deadly Dole Listeria outbreak that has sickened at least 16 people in 13 states and killed two as of December 22, 2021. The FDA says that the outbreak is "potentially linked" to those products. The CDC investigated this outbreak in 2019 and 2020 but was not able to gather enough information to name a brand or products. The investigation was reopened in November 2021 when four new illnesses were reported. In October 2021, the Georgia Department of Agriculture collected a product sample of prepackaged salad mix from a grocery store. That sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. A recall was issued by Dole in October 2021. Those products are now past their "Best if Used By" dates. That positive sample was sent for whole genome … [Read more...]
Two Deaths in a Dole Bagged Salads Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak
There are two deaths in a Dole bagged salads Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sixteen people in 13 states are sick, and twelve people have been hospitalized. The patient case count by state is: Idaho (1), Iowa (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nevada (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (1), Texas (2), Utah (1), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates range from August 16, 2014 to October 17, 2021. The patient age range is from 50 to 94 years. Of fourteen people who gave information to investigators, 12 have been hospitalized. Two deaths were reported, from Michigan and Wisconsin. Of the eight people interviewed, seven said they ate packaged salads the month before they got … [Read more...]
FDA Investigation into the Peach Salmonella Outbreak Continues As It Ends
The FDA investigation into the peach Salmonella outbreak is continuing even as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared the outbreak over. At least 101 people in 17 states were sickened in this outbreak which was first identified in August 2020. Twenty-eight patients were hospitalized. The patient case count by state is: California (1), Connecticut (1), Illinois (1), Iowa (11), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (18), Minnesota (27), Missouri (2), New Jersey (8), New York (14), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (4), Vermont (1) Virginia (3), and Wisconsin (6). The ages of patients ranged from 1 to 92 years. Illness onset dates range from June 29, 2020 to August 27, 2020. No deaths were reported. This outbreak prompted many recalls, including secondary … [Read more...]
Salmonella Stanley Wood Ear Mushroom Outbreak Sickens 43
The Salmonella Stanley wood ear mushroom outbreak has now sickened at least 43 people in 10 states, according to the FDA. Out outbreak is likely linked to wood ear mushrooms imported by Wismettac Asian Foods of Santa Fe Springs, California. This dried mushroom is also known as Kikurage, Dried Black Fungus, Dried Fungus, or Mu'er/Mu Er/Mu-Err. Almost 90% of 18 people interviewed by the government said they ate ramen at a restaurant the week before they starting feeling sick. Four illness clusters were identified at restaurants that serve ramen in three states. The California Department of Public Health collected samples of those Wismettac Asian Foods mushrooms from one of the restaurants where a patient ate. On October 1, 2020, officials said that whole genome sequencing … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In on Multistate Red Onion Salmonella Newport Outbreak
The FDA is weighing in on the multistate red onion Salmonella Newport outbreak that has sickened at least 396 people in 34 states. The FDA is collaborating with the Public Health Agency of Canada, where more than a hundred people are sick with the same strain of Salmonella Newport. On July 30, 2020, Canadian health officials announced they had determined that red onions from the U.S. were a potential source of the outbreak. Sysco red onions that were imported from the United States were recalled in that country. Then on August 1, 2020, Thomson International recalled all varieties of onions in the U.S. and Canada that could have come into contact with the potentially contaminated red onions, including yellow, white, and sweet yellow onions grown and packaged by that company. The … [Read more...]
Chipotle Mexican Grill Pays $25 Million In Criminal Charges After Outbreak
Chipotle Mexican Grill is paying a $25 million fine in criminal charges related to the company's involvement in foodborne illness outbreaks that sickened more than 1000 people between 2015 and 2018. The U.S. Department of Justice announced this news in a press release. Chipotle was charged with adulterating food in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The company agreed to a three-year deferred prosecution agreement that will let it avoid conviction if it complies with an improved food safety program. The $25 million criminal fine is the largest ever in a food safety case. Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division said in a statement, "This case highlights why it is important for restaurants and members of the food … [Read more...]
Enoki Listeria Outbreak Sickens Pregnant Women, 30 Others
The Sun Hong Foods Enoki Listeria outbreak sickens pregnant women and 30 others in 17 states according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Four people died. Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicates that enoki mushrooms labeled "Product of Korea"are the likely source of this Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. The patient case count by state is: Arizona (2), California (9), Florida (2), Hawaii (3), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (2), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New York (4), North Carolina (1), Rhode Island (1), Tennessee (1), and Virginia (3). Illness onset dates range from November 23, 2016 to December 3, 2019. The patient age range is from less than 1 to 97. Of 32 people who gave information to the … [Read more...]
Jimmy John’s Sprouts E. coli O103 Outbreak Info From the CDC
Information about the multistate Jimmy John's sprouts E. coli O103 outbreak has been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is a different outbreak from the E. coli O103 outbreak at Jimmy John's restaurants in Iowa that sickened 22 people in late 2019. Ill people reported eating clover sprouts that were served at Jimmy John's restaurants in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, and Utah. The government is investigating to see if contaminated sprouts were served at other restaurants or sold in grocery stores. The case count by state is: Illinois (6), Iowa (3), Missouri (1), Texas (1), and Utah (3). Illness onset dates range from January 6, 2020 to February 11, 2020. The patient case count is from 1 year to 79 years. No hospitalizations or deaths have … [Read more...]
